Published: Tuesday, July 23, 2013 at 3:50 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, July 23, 2013 at 3:50 p.m.

With determination and a dream, one can soar in life, regardless of the obstacles.

That is the philosophy of Desmond MacRae, a local man who has faced tragedy and transcended his own personal pain and loss to share his lifelong love of aeronautics and flight with others.

MacRae had his eye toward the sky at an early age. His father, the late John Frederick MacRae III, encouraged his son's interest. It was a family affair, as MacRae's younger brother, Byron, also loved flight.

"As a young boy,"MacRae said, "my dad would take us to the fence next to what was the old terminal at the time, and would stay three to four hours, watching Piedmonts, Boeing 737-200s, Fokker F-28s and occasionally 727-200s."

The MacRae brothers immersed themselves in everything aeronautical, from radio-controlled planes to a flight simulator on the family's personal computer. Both brothers became pilots and their dreams literally took flight.

Unfortunately for Desmond MacRae, his piloting days came to a harsh end when he was involved in an automobile accident in January 2004. Suffering a diabetic seizure, MacRae ran into the curb and flipped his car.

MacRae fractured his C-6/C-7 vertebrae; he was suddenly a quadriplegic. After seven days in a coma and realizing his new reality, MacRae said he "had a cry" and expressed how much he did not want to be in a wheelchair.

"My cry was for the fact – not that odds were I wouldn't walk again – but for the fact that fulfilling my dream to fly was probably gone," he said.

While that dream was indeed gone, MacRae worked tirelessly to rehabilitate his body and to put his life back together. Desiring to be near the passion of his life, he repeatedly tried to get his foot in the door at the local airports. It was a rough road, but he persevered.

"I would go and apply to different airlines at ILM airport, but because I couldn't satisfy the ability to lift 70 pounds, it kept me out of the running," MacRae explained. "I even went to the airport to volunteer my time at the information desk in the main terminal but wouldn't get callbacks. I just wanted to do anything to be at the airport."

MacRae's big break came in May, when his brother informed him of the grand reopening of ISO Aero, where the brothers got their start with flying. He attended the event and was approached by Gerry Tremblay, the new operator of ISO.

"He (Tremblay) explained that before this, he was an air traffic controller at ILM and would remember talking to me over the radios, when my brother would be up in the tower interning when he was in high school," said MacRae. "He then proceeded to ask me if I would be interested in becoming his head ground school instructor. Well, after picking up my jaw from falling in my lap in amazement, I answered, "Yes!'?"

"He has given me a chance. That has been all I've ever wanted," MacRae said. "What has brought me down has only built me up that much more. Gerry is the buttress I've needed and looked for these past six to seven years. I'm blessed and very thankful."

Tremblay recognized MacRae's enthusiasm and bet correctly that his spark could ignite a fire in others.

"I thought someone who loves flying that much needs to be in the game in some way," said Tremblay. "He has a deep passion and love of aviation and that is what makes the difference. His enthusiasm makes it a pleasure to work with him. He is an inspiration to me."

MacRae recently completed instructing his first class; and the feedback has been very positive.

Student Wesley Hren said, "Desmond coached me and helped me find out what I want to do in life. Desmond has an unshakable sense of energy and determination for aviation. He has done incredible things and is so helpful. I am privileged to know him."

Another student, Dakota K. Holbrook, a cadet member of the Civil Air Patrol, the auxiliary of the Air Force, concurs.

"His hands-on method of teaching used a combination of video instruction, flight simulators and sample tests to prepare us for the FAA knowledge test in Jacksonville," said Holbrook. "His personality and style of teaching made the material easy to understand and kept our attention."

MacRae plans to gain more certifications to broaden his teaching possibilities. He knows his path to the skies was altered but not ended.

"My life wasn't saved in 2004 to sit around and feel sorry for myself," he said. "I'm here to continue what I started. I want to continue sharing the feeling I get from flying with the new generations of aviators to come. I see the twinkle in my students' eyes that I still possess for aviation. It's a feeling like no other."

<p>With determination and a dream, one can soar in life, regardless of the obstacles.</p><p>That is the philosophy of Desmond MacRae, a local man who has faced tragedy and transcended his own personal pain and loss to share his lifelong love of aeronautics and flight with others.</p><p>MacRae had his eye toward the sky at an early age. His father, the late John Frederick MacRae III, encouraged his son's interest. It was a family affair, as MacRae's younger brother, Byron, also loved flight.</p><p>"As a young boy,"MacRae said, "my dad would take us to the fence next to what was the old terminal at the time, and would stay three to four hours, watching Piedmonts, Boeing 737-200s, Fokker F-28s and occasionally 727-200s."</p><p>The MacRae brothers immersed themselves in everything aeronautical, from radio-controlled planes to a flight simulator on the family's personal computer. Both brothers became pilots and their dreams literally took flight.</p><p>Unfortunately for Desmond MacRae, his piloting days came to a harsh end when he was involved in an automobile accident in January 2004. Suffering a diabetic seizure, MacRae ran into the curb and flipped his car.</p><p>MacRae fractured his C-6/C-7 vertebrae; he was suddenly a quadriplegic. After seven days in a coma and realizing his new reality, MacRae said he "had a cry" and expressed how much he did not want to be in a wheelchair.</p><p>"My cry was for the fact – not that odds were I wouldn't walk again – but for the fact that fulfilling my dream to fly was probably gone," he said.</p><p>While that dream was indeed gone, MacRae worked tirelessly to rehabilitate his body and to put his life back together. Desiring to be near the passion of his life, he repeatedly tried to get his foot in the door at the local airports. It was a rough road, but he persevered.</p><p>"I would go and apply to different airlines at ILM airport, but because I couldn't satisfy the ability to lift 70 pounds, it kept me out of the running," MacRae explained. "I even went to the airport to volunteer my time at the information desk in the main terminal but wouldn't get callbacks. I just wanted to do anything to be at the airport."</p><p>MacRae's big break came in May, when his brother informed him of the grand reopening of ISO Aero, where the brothers got their start with flying. He attended the event and was approached by Gerry Tremblay, the new operator of ISO.</p><p>"He (Tremblay) explained that before this, he was an air traffic controller at ILM and would remember talking to me over the radios, when my brother would be up in the tower interning when he was in high school," said MacRae. "He then proceeded to ask me if I would be interested in becoming his head ground school instructor. Well, after picking up my jaw from falling in my lap in amazement, I answered, "Yes!'?"</p><p>"He has given me a chance. That has been all I've ever wanted," MacRae said. "What has brought me down has only built me up that much more. Gerry is the buttress I've needed and looked for these past six to seven years. I'm blessed and very thankful."</p><p>Tremblay recognized MacRae's enthusiasm and bet correctly that his spark could ignite a fire in others.</p><p>"I thought someone who loves flying that much needs to be in the game in some way," said Tremblay. "He has a deep passion and love of aviation and that is what makes the difference. His enthusiasm makes it a pleasure to work with him. He is an inspiration to me."</p><p>MacRae recently completed instructing his first class; and the feedback has been very positive.</p><p>Student Wesley Hren said, "Desmond coached me and helped me find out what I want to do in life. Desmond has an unshakable sense of energy and determination for aviation. He has done incredible things and is so helpful. I am privileged to know him."</p><p>Another student, Dakota K. Holbrook, a cadet member of the Civil Air Patrol, the auxiliary of the Air Force, concurs.</p><p>"His hands-on method of teaching used a combination of video instruction, flight simulators and sample tests to prepare us for the FAA knowledge test in Jacksonville," said Holbrook. "His personality and style of teaching made the material easy to understand and kept our attention."</p><p>MacRae plans to gain more certifications to broaden his teaching possibilities. He knows his path to the skies was altered but not ended.</p><p>"My life wasn't saved in 2004 to sit around and feel sorry for myself," he said. "I'm here to continue what I started. I want to continue sharing the feeling I get from flying with the new generations of aviators to come. I see the twinkle in my students' eyes that I still possess for aviation. It's a feeling like no other."</p><p><i></p><p>Community News: 343-2364</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @StarNewsOnline</i></p>